- Moroccan Berber Bride
Merzouga Morocco
A Berber bride sits in state with two members of her family…maybe one woman is from the groom’s family and one is from her family. Her husband’s family has prepared a celebration in her honor but she doesn’t get to enjoy much of it. I did see her get up to dance once but most of the time she sat and gazed from behind her veil at the villagers who came to pay their respects. Meanwhile, in another house, the groom waited in a room surrounded by his friends, drinking tea, laughing and joking.
Later he would be veiled himself: a band of white fabric is wrapped around his head and face with only his eyes showing, similar to a Touareg’s veil. (Touaregs are a Berber group.) He is led by his friends from the room to the home where his bride waits. Villagers follow, clapping and singing. Women of his family carry trays with wedding gifts on their heads. Wedding guests rush forward to pin money to the grooms headdress. The procession is led by two men with a fatted ram in tow. Once the procession reaches the house where the bride rests, the ram’s throat is slashed. Then that portion of the ceremony is over.
The meat from the killed ram is served to the wedding guests in a meal of many courses of grilled meat, tagine and couscous.
September is the month when Berber weddings occur. Contact Ali at www.adventureswithali.com for information about your trip to visit the desert Berbers of Morocco.